A very pointed question.
As soon as Tsunade spoke, the originally warm and friendly atmosphere instantly became somewhat tense.
Shizune felt inexplicably nervous, silently moving her steps to hide behind Tsunade.
It is true that Uchiha Megumi was a combat hero who survived the Battle of Takamagahara, and her being alive was a cause for joy.
However, not returning to the village for four years without reporting, and even working for another organization, was an extremely serious matter.
Without a proper reason, the crime of 'defecting' would be unavoidable!
Although Tsunade was now traveling the world due to her emotional distress over her brother's sacrifice, she maintained contact with the village and often executed missions, remaining a pillar of strength for Konoha.
Their situations were not the same.
Therefore, meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land, Tsunade did not simply reminisce.
After a brief greeting, she went straight to the point to clarify the reason for Uchiha Megumi's long absence from the village.
If Uchiha Megumi was indeed a rogue Shinobi, Tsunade would not hesitate to eliminate her on the spot.
if there was an unspeakable reason, she would assist her with all her power.
Megumai understood Tsunade's underlying meaning. She glanced around, smiled faintly, and said,
"Tsunade-sama, this is not a suitable place for a leisurely chat. If you don't mind, please move to my humble dwelling nearby."
Tsunade's eyes flickered. After a moment's thought, she nodded in agreement and followed Megumai to the nearby, secret mountain cave.
...
Beneath the snow, there was a hidden world.
A delicate Fire Style jutsu lit the snake oil in the recessed groove of the cave's ceiling.
The flame instantly ignited, making the cave as bright as day and warm as spring.
Megumai was the first to step into the mountain cave.
Who would have thought that someone would live in seclusion in this bitter cold place! Shizune secretly marvelled.
The amount of work to excavate such a neat and livable cave is extraordinary!
The cave was full of the atmosphere of life, warm and natural.
To host them in such a hidden dwelling showed Megumai's sincerity. Tsunade relaxed a little and carefully observed the cave's furnishings.
There were many children's scribbles pasted on the wall. There were scenes and people, simple lines, unrestrained imagination, quite childish and fun.
However, in the family portrait-style drawings, there were only two people, one big and one small.
Why is there one person missing?
Isn't a family of three the basic unit?
Did the man of the house die?
No, even if he died, a child would still hold onto a beautiful vision and draw the deceased person.
Unless...
In the child's mind, that person simply does not exist!
Did Megumai intentionally conceal him from the child?
Why would she hide him?
Could this hidden story be the reason Megumai is not returning to the village?
As her thoughts spun, Tsunade made a bold speculation.
Megumai was completely unaware of her rich imagination.
The moment she entered, she placed her son on the sofa and went to the kitchen to make tea.
Seiya took off his shoes, stood on the sofa, pointed to the round dining table on one side, and said, "Onee-chan Tsunade, Onee-chan Shizune, please sit."
"Thank you."
Tsunade and Shizune took their seats as instructed.
After hosting the guests, Seiya looked at the clock, switched on the TV by himself, sat back on the sofa, tuned to the corresponding cartoon channel, and watched with keen interest.
At the same time, Megumai came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray, and served tea to Tsunade and Shizune, then brought her son a cup of warm water with a straw.
Tsunade glanced at Seiya sitting properly on the sofa and praised him. "A very well-behaved child, neither noisy nor troublesome."
"He actually has his moments too."
Megumai's eyes held a smile as she sat across from Tsunade.
Shizune quietly drank her tea. This was a conversation between seniors, and she, as a junior, would not interfere.
Megumai knew perfectly well that the master and apprentice were not here for small talk. Therefore, she didn't waste words and went straight to the point.
"Tsunade-sama, how much do you know about the current situation in the village?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding the meaning, but still answered, "Due to the Nine-Tails attack, the village suffered heavy losses. Minato was unfortunately killed, and Sarutobi-sensei was reinstated as Hokage. Currently, the village is doing its best to recuperate."
Megumai then asked, "What is the situation with the Uchiha?"
"There's some unrest; it's quite troublesome and causing Sarutobi-sensei a lot of distress."
"That is why I am not returning to the village."
"What do you mean?"
"Since the reign of the Second Hokage, the Uchiha have been an object of suspicion for the higher-ups. The Second Hokage's disciples, which is to say the higher-ups led by the Third Hokage, have escalated that suspicion into outright hostility! In their eyes, the Uchiha, who have countless achievements for the village, have become objects to be eliminated."
"Megumai,"
Tsunade frowned, wanting to speak, but Megumai raised her hand to interrupt.
"Tsunade-sama, please hear me out. When Uchiha Madara defected, no one from the Uchiha clan followed him. From start to finish, the Uchiha, as one of the founding clans of the village, had no intention of betraying the village; they only wanted to gain greater power and more influence within it. However, as time passes, the Uchiha's situation is worsening day by day. In the near future, it is difficult to guarantee that something unspeakable will not happen."
"Megumai, the situation might not reach that point. Sarutobi-sensei is working hard to find a strategy for reconciliation," Tsunade comforted her.
Megumai smiled and shook her head.
"I don't want to survive the siege of Takamagahara, only to bleed out in a seemingly peaceful village."
Tsunade remained silent.
After a moment, she spoke.
"Your involvement in the internal conflict of Amegakure is not necessarily safe either. The recent Amegakure attack is an example."
Megumai smiled faintly.
"It's hard to find absolute safety in the Shinobi World. I have decided to leave Kouun City and move away from the internal power struggle of Amegakure."
Tsunade was surprised to hear this. "You're leaving?"
"Yes," Megumai nodded. "With the end of the Shinobi War, the Tetsu no Kuni is no longer a peaceful sanctuary."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed, a flash of realization crossing them. "No wonder you acted so openly on the street a while ago; you were planning to move to another place."
Then Tsunade added, "But you shouldn't be so reckless. In the eyes of those who pay attention, you are already on a list. Your future journey will not be safe and may be constantly attacked. Megumai, come back to the village."
Megumai lifted her eyes, took a shallow sip of tea, and said calmly, "My strength is not what it used to be; I have no fear of any attack. Tsunade-sama, if you don't mind, let's consider Uchiha Megumi to have died at Takamagahara. I am now Megumai."
"What if I do mind?" Tsunade's face was calm as a lake, her eyes deep.
Shizune sat upright, staring intently at Megumai.
The TV was still playing cartoons. Seiya was completely engrossed, utterly unaware of the subtly shifting atmosphere in the living room.
Megumai was composed. She put down her teacup, glanced at her son, and said to Tsunade, "My parents died fighting at Takamagahara, and I, too, fought to the very end there."
"I owe Konoha nothing!"
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